Strip-serving apparatus



Nov. 1, 1927.

L. J. PETERS STRIP SERVING APPARATUS Filed May .26. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v VENTOR A TTORNE Y Nov. 1, 192 7.

L. J. PETERS STRIP SERVING APPARATUS Filed May 26. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l LL Om mm b? INVENTOR y 2pm ATTORNEYJ' Nov. 1, 1927.

L. J. PETERS STRIP SERVING APPARATUS Filed May 26, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 Nov. 1, 1927.

' L. J. PETERS STRIP SERVING APPARATUS FiledMay 26, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet IN VENTOR A TTORNE Y 3 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

LOUIS J. PETERS, F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STRIP-SERVING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 26, 1923. Serial No. 841,831.

- This invention relates to strip serving apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for serving adhesive strips of tapei'or sealing application to packages or the like; and has special reference to the provision of an improved strip serving apparatus capable of being set into operation w1th rap 1dity and facilitv for automatically delivering or serving adhesive strips of tape of selectively different lengths; I

A principal object of the present invention relates to the provision of a strip serving apparatus which is constructed and adapted to be set into operation for the automatic delivering or serving at the will of the operator of either an individual strip or a plurality of adhesively conditioned strips of tape of any one of a number of selectivel different lengths. Another principal object of the present invention relates to the provision of a strip serving apparatus having a compact organization and comprising a light-weight selfcontained portable machine. I

A further principal object of the invention relates to the provision of a tape serving machine of the nature referred toin which adhesive or other tape is adapted to be fed and cut into predetermined lengths of ac- 3:: curate dimensions with the said strips fed from the machine in an efficient and positive manner.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as hereinafter particularly described and sought to he defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodimentof my invention, and in which u Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof with parts broken aw.ay, I

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken on the line 33, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view taken on the line 4+4, Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the machine,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary portion of the same showing the feeding means and taken in cross-section on the line 6-6, Fig. 3, with the parts in a different position, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged view taken in cross-section on the broken line 77, Fig. 6.

As heretofore mentioned, one of the prime objects of my present invention relates to the provision of a strip-serving apparatus which is constructed and adapted to be set into operation for the automatic delivering or serving at the will or selection of the operator, of either an individual strip or a plurality of adhesively conditioned strips of tape of any one of a number of selectively .rapidity,'ease and facility for the selective serving of an individual strip of tape of a desired length, or a pluralityof such strips of selected lengths. To these ends, the apparatus constructionally comprises a feeding means generally designated as A which is intermittently operable, for feeding tape from a supply roll B to cutting means generally designated as C, the feeding means A being operated by a driving means, generally designated as D, which is adapted to. be'continuously operated and controlled by a startng and stopping mechanism generally designated as E, the said starting and stopping mechanism E being operable for automatically producing a predetermined operation of the feeding and cutting means, the starting and stopping means being constructed so as to be manipulated manually for starting the operation of the driving means D and to be automatically operated to stop the motion of the driving means after a single or a plurality of strips of tape .of desired length or lengths has been delivered.

' of a strip to be fed, the ration -the periods As mentioned, the feeding means A is conof dwell and motion is predetermined or varied by the operator. The feeding means A ofmy invention is further designed to yield a slmple construction'which operates ina positive manner for feeding the tape and for feeding the same to be cut into strip lengths with repeating accuracy so that successive strips are of equal and accurately determined lengths. I

To accomplish these ends, the feeding means includes a feed drum 10 freely rotatable on a shaft 11 journalled in the side plates 12 and 13, the said side plates being attached to a base 14 by means of securing elements such as 15, the side plates and base forming the supporting structure for the parts of the machine. The drum 1O preferably comprises a light-weight hollow casting, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the draw-' ings, the said drum having dimensions such that the largest size of strip whichthe machine is designed to serve will be fed 'b" the drum during one revolutionthereof. erating with the feeding drum 10, there is provided a presser 'roll.16 'fixed to a shaft 17 movably ournalled in aligned notches 18 provided in the side plates 12 and 13, the

said presser roll 16 resiliently cooperating with the drum 10 for feeding engagement with the ta e t therebetween, the resilient engagement eing provided by means of the spring pressed shoes 19 bearing upon the outer ends of the shaft 17 and fixed to the spring elements 20 anchored at one end to the supporting elements 21 which are attached to the side plates 11 and 12, the other ends of the sprin elements being adapted to engage the adjustable stop means 22 fixedly carried by the said side plates.

The resser roll 16 is designed to be positively ed by rotation of the drum 10, and to this end the shaft 17 is provided with a pinion 23 which meshes with a gear 24 referably formed integrally with the feed rum 10. Cooperating with the feed drum and presser roll, there is also provided a guide roll 25 journalled inthe supporting side plates 12 and 13, and in the preferred arrangement the said guide roll is arranged below the top of the feed drum '10, so that the tape t contacts said drum for feeding engagement over a relatively large area. The positive feeding of the presser roll and the large surface engagement provided for the tape t effects a positive feeding of the tape, the being a desideratum where tape strips of accurately determined lengths are desired to operable from the driving means D for imparting the desired intermittent motion to the drum 10. The pawl and ratchet mechamsm of my invention is particularly designed to produce an operation of the drum 10 which will effect the feeding of the tape with the repeating accuracy desired. To ac- 1 complish these ends, I provide a toothed .member or ratchet 27 secured to a hub portion 28 which may be formed integrally with the drum 10 by means of the securin screws 29, and cooperating with the toothe member 27 I provide a awl member 30 which is pivotally carried y a worm wheel or gear 31 adapted to be continuously operated and which is loosely rotatable on the a hub portion 28 and confined in position by means of the toothed member 27, the said pawl being mounted to oscillate about the p1vot 32 into positions into and out of engagement with the toothed member 27, as 1s clearly shown for example in full and dotted lines in Fig. 6 of the drawings, and to be spring held in either of the full or dotted line positions by means of the resilient ele-- ment 33, one end of which is anchored to the pawl and the other end of which is fixed to the gear 31, as will clearly appear from a consideration of the drawings.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that,

in the rotation of the gear 31 the pawl 30 may be operated during each revolution of the gear into and out of engagement with the toothed member 27 to operate the latter;

points during the revolution at which the pawl is made to engage the toothed member, the ratio of the periods of dwell and motion will be modified, with the resulting modification of the length of tape fed during such a revolution or cycle of operation. For prea determining the operation of the pawl 30 to produce these results, I provide tripping means for tripping the pawl at selective and spaced points in its path of movement and resetting means also in the path of movement of the pawl for resetting the same. In

the preferred embodiment of my invention the tripping means comprises a. plurality of tripping elements arranged circumferential- 1y of the path of movement of the pawl, each of said elements being movable into the path of movement of the pawl for engaging the same on one side thereof so as to move the same out of engagement with the toothed member, and the resetting means comprises an element fixedly arranged in the path of movement of the pawl for engaging the same on the other side thereof and operative to move the pawl into engagement with the toothed member.

The tripping elements more specifically comprise a plurality of spaced spring actuated plunger elements 34 arranged circumferentially about for reciprocating motion in an annular member 35 fixed to the side plate 12 by means of the securing screws 36 and confined for movement in the annular member 35 by means of a second annular member 37 fixed to the outer wall of the side plate 12 by means of the securing elements 37. Normally each of the spring actuated plungers is positioned with the inner end 34 out of the path of movement of the pawl 30, and with the outer end 34 extending or projecting from the annular member 37, with the shoulder 34, of the plunger abutting against the annulus 37. For moving a plunger element against the action'of its spring 34 with the rear end projected into the path of movement of the pawl, I provide a handle 38 journalled for free rotation on the shaft-11 and confined thereon by means of the nut 39, the said handle being provided with a finger-hold 40 adapted to be grasped by the operator for rotating the handle into any selected position over any of the plunger elements 34. As shown-in Fig. 7 of the drawings, when the handle is moved into position over a plunger element, the outer convexed end of the plunger is engaged by the handle, which latter may be provided with a socketed portion for seating the end of the plunger element, the handle being thus definitely located in position and the plunger moved for cooperation with the pawl. In the construction exemplified, I provide four plunger elements 34 equi-distantly spaced so as to effect the feeding of tape of lengths such as 3, 6, 9 and 12 inches. The resetting element preferably comprises, as mentioned, a stationary stud element 41 (see for example Figs. 6 and 7) spaced relatively to the plunger elements. 34 so as to provide substantially equally circumferentially spaced elements, but arranged however on a radius smaller than the radii ofthe plunger elements, the arrangement being such that the fixed stud 41 engages with a complemental stud 42 forming part of the pawl on the inner side thereof to move the pawl about the pivot 32 into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 while a plunger element 34 engages the said complemental stud 42 on the other or outer side thereof so as to move the pawl about the pivot 32 in the opposite direction and out of engagement with the toothed member. In order to obtain the desired accuracy of movement of the feed drum, the toothed member 27 is provided with a number of teeth spaced correspondingly and equal in number to the number of tripping and resetting elements, and as clearly shown in the drawings, the toothed member is thus provided with five teeth, and with this construction it will be evident that the pawl will always engage given tooth at a given point in the travel of the pawl, and this combined with the positive feeding of the tape produces the feeding and cutting of the tape with repeating accuracy. To further regulate the operation of these arts to a nicety, I may provide the adj ustab e spring pressed friction shoe mechanism 42 arranged to frictionally engage the feed drum 10 for regulatingthe braking action thereof. 3

With the above described construction, it

shaft 44 being coupled to the shaft of anelectric motor 46 by means-of a coupling element 47, the said motor being attached to and carried by the supporting base 14, producing a compact, self-contained and portav ble machine. the machine, the speed of the motor 46 of the driving means D is controlled by means ofa rheostat 48 mounted on the supporting side plate 13. I

As heretofore mentioned, the strip serving apparatus may be set to deliver an individual strip of a desired length, or a plurality of successive strips by the automatic control of a starting and stopping means E. The starting and stopping means preferably comprises a switch mechanism which is manually manipulatable by a simple operation for starting the motor 46, and which is operated automatically by the machine for stopping the motor 46 as selected. In the preferred construction the starting and stopping means E comprises a switch mechanism contained in a switch casing 49, the said switch mechanism being preferably of the push-button type provided with the circuit closing button 50 and with the circuit opening button 51 (see for example Fig. 2 of the drawin the button 50 being manually manipulata le for starting the motor and the button 51 being adapted to be operated by means of an arm 52 pivoted, as at 53, and

For regulating the speed of normally maintained in the position shown in Fig. l by means of the tension spring 54 anchored at one end to the side plate 12 and at the other end to the arm 52, suitable adjustable stop means 55 being provided for cooperation therewith. The arm 52is arranged to be operated by the rotation of the feeding means at the end of a cycle of operation thereof, and to this end a stud 56 fixed to the arm 52 is arranged to be engaged by a co-acting stud element 57 preferably fixed .to the gear 31, so. that upon the completion of a cycle of operation of the said gear and the parts operated thereby, the arm 52 is moved against the tension of the spring 54 for operating the push button 51 to stop the motor.

The strip serving apparatus may be set to deliver the strips either singly or in multiple by the positioning of the switch casing 49, and said switch casing being rotatably journalled in the boss 58 forming part of the base of the machine and movable into either of two positions, as clearly shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings,

the button 51 being within and without the sphere of influence of the operating arm 52 in the full and dotted line positions respectively. For the purpose of positioning the casing 49 in both of said positions, the base is preferably provided with the spaced stop members 59 and 60. Nith this construction it will be apparent that when the operator desires the strips to be fed in multiple, he

- will rotate the casing 49 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, (the full line position shown in Fig. 4), and when the operator desires the stopping of the machine or the strips to be fed singly or individually, he will rotate the casing 49 to the full line position shown in Figs. 1 and2. It will further be apparent that with the construction thus far described, the selected feeding of the strips of selected lengths may be effected by the rapid and simple operation of the handle 38 and the switch casing 49 and operation of the push button switch.

For cutting the ta e into predetermined strip lengths as fed y the feeding means A, the cuttin means C heretofore referred tois provided: and this cutting means preferably comprises a stationary cutting element 62 and a movable cutting member-63 cooperating therewith, the cutting member 63 being pivoted as at 64 on a support 65, and being movable by means of a connecting bar 66, one end of which is attached to the cutting member 63 and the other end of which is attached to the switch operating arm 52, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. The cuttin of the tape t is effected durlng that perio of dwell of the feed drum 10 common to every selected length of tape, and to this end the element 57 is so arranged on the gear 31 as to engage with the element 56'on the arm 52 after the pawl 30 has passed or been tripped to its non-engaging position by the tripping element 34 adjacent to and preceding the resettin element 41, this arrangement of parts being clearly depicted in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

For guiding the tape t from the feed drum 10 to and through the cutting means, 1 preferably provide a guide means consisting of a bottom plate 67 and a top plate 68,

the guide plate 67 terminating in a portion 67 which projects into an annular groove 69 formed in the feed drum 10 and functioning for stripping the tape from the drum 10 and guidingthe same between the guide plates, this so that the tape may be selfthreading through the feeding elements.

The supply roll B is removably received by means supported in the side plates 12 and 13, said means including a positioning block 70 attached to the side plate 13 and a tension plate 71 carried by an adjusting member 72, these parts being adjustable for accommodating different widths of tape.

For moistening the tape strips, I provide a moistening means F arranged to receive the strips after they have been cut by the cutting means 0. In the preferred construction the moistening means comprising a moistening roll 73 movable in a tank or receptacle 74 adapted to contain a supply of water if adhesive tape is used, or a supply of adhesive if non-adhesive tape is used, and de sirably the said moistenin roll 73 is positively driven and preferab y from the feed- .ing means A, so that the tape is delivered in a positive manner from the apparatus. After an extended period of non-use of the apparatus, it is desirable to moisten the roll 73 so that the full length of tape fed is properly conditioned, and to this end I have found it desirable to so construct the positive driving means for the moistening roll 73 as to permit the roll to move freely in one direction and independently of the driving means therefor. This is accomplished preferably by a driving connection between the moistening roll 73 and the feed drum 10 which includes a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and to this end I provide a ratchet 7 5 free] rotatable on the hub of a gear 76, the sai gear carrying a pivoted spring pressed pawl 77 for driving the ratchet 75, the gear meshing with a pinion 78 which in turn meshes with the gear 24 of the feeding drum 10.

The moistening roll 73 is preferably made hollow, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings,

to limit 'the water displacement thereof, and

the said roll is preferably reinovably attachable to the ratchet '4" so as to permit removal of the moistening roll and removal of supporting side plates of the machine. A COIIVBl'llGIlt means of detachably attaching .the moistening roll 73 to the ratchet 75 may comprise a pin carried by the ratchet, the said pin being received by an orifice 81 formed in the hub of the moistening roll 7 3, the moistening roll being provided with trunnions 82 and 83, one receivable in a bore 84 provided in the gear 76, and the other receivable in a bore 85 provided in the side plate 12. For rotating the moistening roll independently of. the driving means there for, I may provide the trunnion 83 with a knurled portion 86. This construction, besides permitting of the initial moistening of the roll, also permits the over-running thereof when it is desired to remove a lengthy strip from the machine after an individual feeding operation.

For stripping the moistening tape from the moistening roll, I may provide a stripping element 87 projecting into an annular groove 88 (see Figs. 1 and 4) provided medially of the moistening roll 73. Cooperating with the moistening roll I may also provide a hollow press roll 89 provided with trunnions 90 and 91 journalled in the spaced arms 92 and 93, which arms are pivotally mounted on the supporting side plates of the machine. The press roll 89 is in resilient engagement with the tape strips, this being obtained by the weight of the elements and the spring elements 94 anchored to upstanding supports 95 and to the arms 92 and 93, the said spring elements functioning for supporting the press roll in an elevated position when the latter is moved to such position.

The receptacle 74 is preferably provided.

with a lip or guide 87* performing the double function of aiding in lifting the tape from the roll and for providing a fin er hold to lift the receptacle for removing t e same from the machine for refilling purposes.

The use and operation of my strip serving apparatus will in the main be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. It'will be further apparent that all the parts of the apparatus are especially designed to provide a compact, a light-weight and portable machine capable of being set into operation by an unskilled operator or user to ren der qulck and eflicient service. It will be apparent that in use the tape may be threaded to and through the machlne without moving or re-arrangmg the parts thereof, and that the moistening apparatus may be properly conditioned for moistening the full length of I measured strips to meet the highest deman s of service.

While I have shown my invention in the preferred form, itwill be apparent that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, delined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A strip serving apparatus comprising means operable in cycles for feeding and cutting tape into strips of selectively difierent lengths, an electric motor for operating the said means, a switch including starting and stopping mechanism for said motor, means operated by the motor to selectively operate the stopping mechanism to produce a single cycle or successive cycles of operation of said feeding and cutting means so as to serve at will an individual strip of any selected length or a plurality of successive strips of any such length.

2. A. strip serving apparatus comprising means for feeding tape and cutting the same into strips, an electric motor for operating the said means, a mechanism for said motor manually operable for starting the same and automatically operable for stopping the same, means for automatically operating the mechanism to stop the motor, the said-mechanism being selectively positionable to be without or within the sphere of influence of the means for automatically operating the same.

3. A strip serving apparatus comprising means for feeding tape and cutting the same into strips, an electric motor for operating the said means, a mechanism for said motor influence of the means for automatically opcrating the same.

4. A strip serving apparatus comprising means for feeding tape and cutting the same into strips, an electric motor for operating the said means, a switch mechanism for said motor manually closable for starting the motor and automatically openable for stopping the same, means for automatically opening the switch mechanism to stop the motor, the said mechanism being selectively positionable to be without or within the sphere of influence of the means for automatically operating the same. 7

5. A strip serving apparatus comprising means for feeding tape and cuttin the same into strips of selectively di erent lengths, an electric motor for operating the said means, a switchcasing provided with switch means for sald motor, said caslng movable into either of two positions and an 'ment of t e arm actuated by operation of said feeding and cutting means effective for operating the switch means when the swltch casing is located in one of said positions.

ber, a plum ity of tripping elements, each independently, movable into the path of movement of the pawl and positioned when in the path of movement thereof to disengage the same from the toothed member, and a resettin element also in the path of movepawl and positioned to engage the same during the rotation of the gear to move the pawl into engagement with the toothed member.

7. A strip serving apparatus, includin feeding means for feeding the strip, the sai feeding means comprisin a feed drum, 8. toothed member fixed to t e drum, a drivin means for the drum including a ear, a paw carried by the gear and movabde into and out of engagement with the toothed member, a plurality of circumferentially arran ed tripping studs, each independently movable into the path of movement of the pawl and positioned to engage and move the pawl out of engagement with the toothed member, a rotatable handle movable for engaging any selected stud to move the same into tri ping position, and a fixed resetting stud a in the path of movement of the pawl and positioned to engage the same during the rotation of the ear to move the pawl into engagement with the toothed member.

8. A strip serving apparatus, including feeding means for feeding tape to be cut into strips of selectively different lengths comprising a driving member adapted to be continuously driven. a tape feeding member,

mechanism including apawl and ratchet for intermittently moving the tape feeding member from the driving member in cycles having eriods of dwell and motion, and means or predetermining the periods of dwell and motion of the cycle including a fixed and a plurality of movable studs arranged circumferentially about the path of movement of the pawl, and a handle movv able into engagement with any selected movable stud to move the same into the path of movement of said pawl.

9. In a strip serving apparatus, feeding means for feeding tape to a cutting means to be severed into stri of selectively different lengths, said fee ing means comprising a driving member adapted to be continuously aeaaaoe driven, a tape feeding member, and mechanism for intermittently moving the tape feeding member from the driving member, the said mechanism including a toothed member fixed to the tape feeding member, a sprin controlled pawl member pivoted to the riving member and arranged to be. moved into positions into and out of engagement with said toothed member and to be spring-held in the position into which it is moved, and means in the path of movement of the pawl member for moving the same into the engaging and disengaging positions.

10. Feeding means for a strip serving apparatus comprising a driving member adapted to be continuously driven, a tape feeding member, a toothed member fixed to the tape feeding member, a pawl pivotally carried by the driving member and movable into and out of engagement with the toothed member, and means for moving the pawl into and out of engagement with the toothed member including a plurality of elements arranged coaxially with the driving member and movable into and out of the path of movement of the pawl and positioned to move the pawl out of engagement with the toothed member, and a fixed element positioned in the path of movement of the pawl to move the pawl in the opposite direction into engagement with the toothed member.

11. In a strip serving apparatus, a rotatable feed drum, drivlng means therefor,

means operated by the drivin means to connect the drum therewith, a p urality of normally inoperative trips each for releasing the connecting means at a selected period in the travel of the drum, and selective mechanism to move any selected trip into operative position, said selective mechanism normally operative to hold the selected trip in tripping position.

13. In a strip serving apparatus, a rotatable feed drum, driving means therefor, means operated by the drivin means to connect the drum therewith, a p urality of normally inoperative trips each for releasing the connecting'means at a selected period in the travel of the,drum, selective mechanism to move any selected trip into, operative osition and means operated by the drivin means to stop the same at the end of eac complete rotation of the drum, said means means operable in cycles for feeding tape unit lengths, after the selective mechanism and cutting it into unit lengths, a prime has been started and independently of the mover for operating the said means, means starting and stopgling mechanism. 1

for controllmg the prime mover including Signed at Broo yn in the county of Kings mechanism to start and stop the same, and and State of New York, this 19th day of selective mechanism for causing the appara- May A. D. 1923.

tus to feed a unit length or a succession of LOUIS J. PETERS. 

